INDIANAPOLIS — Attorney General
Curtis Hill Jr. is standing by his story that he did not grope four
women at a capital city bar on March 15, 2018, during a party
celebrating the adjournment of Indiana's annual legislative session.

The
Republican last week submitted a 13-page, paragraph-by-paragraph,
response to the complaint filed in March by the Supreme Court's
Disciplinary Commission that asks the state's high court to impose
professional sanctions against Hill for his alleged sexual misconduct.

In
the document, Hill denies having touched the backs and/or buttocks of
state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, and three legislative
staffers of both political parties, during the post-midnight party at
A.J.'s Lounge in downtown Indianapolis.

He
also denies that any of his alleged behavior, including encouraging
women to "show some skin" to get drinks, amounted to either a criminal
act or anything warranting a Supreme Court reprimand, let alone the
suspension or revocation of his law license, either of which would make
Hill ineligible to remain in office.

Hill
does acknowledge in his response he was at the party, and Candelaria
Reardon and her legislative assistant Samantha Lozano, of East Chicago,
were at the party.

But he
repeatedly denies he touched either of them, or groped Statehouse
staffers Gabrielle McLemore and Niki DaSilva, about whom Hill says he
"lacks knowledge" as to whether they even attended the event.

The
Times generally does not name victims of alleged sex crimes. However,
all four women previously have publicly detailed their allegations
against Hill.

Curiously, Hill's denials in his
disciplinary complaint response extend to basic facts about his legal
career, such as: "The respondent has substantial experience in the
practice of law including many years as the elected prosecuting attorney
for Elkhart County."

Hill
claims that information was unnecessarily added as an alleged
aggravating factor that needs no response. But, he says, "To the extent
any answer is required, the respondent denies this averment."

The
Supreme Court last month appointed former Justice Myra Selby to gather
and review evidence relating to the complaint, after the court rejected
Hill's attempts to have the disciplinary case dismissed.

Selby
is due in coming months to hear from both sides and compile a report on
the case for the high court's five justices, who ultimately will decide
whether Hill's alleged conduct warrants professional sanction.

A
special prosecutor last year declined to file either felony or
misdemeanor charges relating to Hill's alleged behavior, because the
prosecutor doubted the evidence gathered by the state's inspector
general would result in a criminal conviction.

Nevertheless,
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Republican leaders of the Indiana
House and Senate all have called on Hill to resign, though lawmakers
declined to take any steps toward impeaching Hill during this year's
recently concluded legislative session.